Galatians 4:4 Exposition on Incarnation and Redemption
Galatians 4:4 states, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law" (KJV). This verse is central to Paul's argument in Galatians, emphasizing the divine timing and nature of Christ's incarnation and its implications for redemption from the law [2, 3, 5].
The immediate context of Galatians 4:4-7 explains that just as an heir is under guardians until maturity, so were people under the law before Christ's coming [3, 4]. Paul argues that the Galatians, having been freed from the ceremonial law through Christ, were foolish to return to its bondage [5]. The "fulness of the time" refers to God's predetermined moment in history for Christ's advent [7]. This concept is cross-referenced with various Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah's arrival, such as Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, and Daniel 9:24, indicating a long-awaited divine plan [1].
The phrase "God sent forth his Son" highlights the pre-existence and divine nature of Christ, emphasizing that He was sent by God, not merely a human figure [7]. The subsequent description, "made of a woman," affirms Christ's full humanity, born of a human mother, as also seen in Matthew 1:23 and Luke 1:31 [1, 7]. This dual nature—fully divine and fully human—is crucial for His redemptive work. As "made under the law," Christ subjected himself to the Mosaic Law, fulfilling its requirements and bearing its curse [7]. This obedience was necessary to "buy freedom" for those under the law, ransoming them from its claims and enabling their adoption as God's children (Galatians 4:5) [7].
The purpose of Christ's coming, as outlined in this passage, is to redeem those under the law and grant them the adoption of sons, allowing them to receive the Spirit of His Son into their hearts, crying "Abba, Father" (Galatians 4:5-6) [3, 4]. This redemption is not through human effort but through Christ's complete rescue from sin and the "evil world" [6]. John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, discusses the occasion of redemption as Adam's fall and redemption itself through Christ [8]. The sending of the Son and the Spirit into believers' hearts provides the strongest evidence of their adoption [3, 4].
Sources
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Galatians 4:4 cross-references: Genesis 3:15, Genesis 49:10, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 48:16, Jeremiah 31:22, Daniel 9:24, Micah 5:2, Zechariah 2:8, Zechariah 6:12, Malachi 3:1, Matthew 1:23, Matthew 3:15, Matthew 5:17, Mark 1:15, Luke 1:31, Luke 1:35, Luke 2:7, Luke 2:10, Luke 2:21, Luke 20:44, John 1:14, John 3:16, John 6:38, John 8:42, John 10:36, Acts 1:7, Romans 1:3, Romans 8:3, Romans 9:5, Romans 15:8, Ephesians 1:10, Philippians 2:6, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 2:14, Hebrews 9:10, Hebrews 10:5, 1 John 4:2, 1 John 4:9, 1 John 4:14”
- Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 4 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO GALATIANS 4 In this chapter the apostle discourses concerning the abrogation of the ceremonial law, under which the Old Testament saints were, being as children under tutors; blames the Galatians for returning to it when they were freed from it; puts them in mind of their former affection to him and to his ministry; describes the false apostles, who had been the occasion of their departure from the truth, and by a beautiful allegory sets forth the difference between the legal and Gospel dispensations. And whereas in the latter part of ”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 4 (introduction): The apostle shows that, as an heir in nonage is under tutors and guardians, so were the Galatians while under the law; and, as the heir when he comes of age is no longer under guardians, so they, when the Gospel came, arrived at full maturity, and were redeemed from the law, Gal 4:1-3. He shows, farther, that when the fullness of the time came God sent forth his Son, that we might obtain the adoption of sons, and have the strongest evidence of that adoption, Gal 4:4-6. Those who are children of God are heirs of heaven, Gal 4:7. He compares their forme”
- Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 4 (introduction): THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED: ILLUSTRATION OF OUR SUBJECTION TO THE LAW ONLY TILL CHRIST CAME, FROM THE SUBJECTION OF AN HEIR TO HIS GUARDIAN TILL HE IS OF AGE. PETER'S GOOD WILL TO THE GALATIANS SHOULD LEAD THEM TO THE SAME GOOD WILL TO HIM AS THEY HAD AT FIRST SHOWN. THEIR DESIRE TO BE UNDER THE LAW SHOWN BY THE ALLEGORY OF ISAAC AND ISHMAEL TO BE INCONSISTENT WITH THEIR GOSPEL LIBERTY. (Gal. 4:1-31) The fact of God's sending His Son to redeem us who were under the law (Gal 4:4), and sending the Spirit of His Son into our hearts (Gal 4:”
- Galatians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Galatians 4 (introduction): The apostle, in this chapter, is still carrying on the same general design as in the former - to recover these Christians from the impressions made upon them by the judaizing teachers, and to represent their weakness and folly in suffering themselves to be drawn away from the gospel doctrine of justification, and to be deprived of their freedom from the bondage of the law of Moses. For this purpose he makes use of various considerations; such as, I. The great excellence of the gospel state above the legal (Gal 4:1-7). II. The happy change that was m”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 1:4: 1:4-5 This summary of the Good News is the basis for the rebuke that follows (1:6-10). This might be a creed or confession of faith that Paul used to remind the Galatians of the message they had earlier embraced. 1:4 Because Jesus completely rescued us from our sins, there is no place for efforts to save ourselves. • Christian faith rescues us from this evil world in which we live (see 4:8-12; 5:13-26).”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 4:4: 4:4-5 God set the right time in the course of history for Christ to come (cp. Luke 4:18-19; Eph 4:8-10). • Christ was fully human (born of a woman) and subject to the law. Christ fulfilled the law (see Matt 3:13-15; 5:17) so that now God’s children have freedom and are no longer bound as slaves to it. • to buy freedom: By fulfilling the law and bearing its curse, Christ ransomed us from its claims (Gal 3:13; see also Rom 3:24; Col 1:13-14). • so that he could adopt us: See also Rom 8:15-17.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 36: 208 ARGUMENT. The First Part of the Apostles’ Creed—viz. the knowledge of God the Creator, being disposed of, we now come to the Second Part, which relates to the knowledge of God as a Redeemer in Christ. The subjects treated of accordingly are, first , the Occasion of Redemption—viz. Adam’s fall; and, secondly , Redemption itself. The first five chapters are devoted to the former subject, and the remainder to the latter. Under the Occasion of Redemption, the Fall is considered not only in a general way, but also specially in its e”